Spionkop Battlefield in Port Shepstone

Take time to read the names of many who remain on this field, salute!

Incredible history.Road a bit rough especially after the rain, but we managed it with a Hyundai minibus. You need cash to pay for the entrance.

This is a must see. Very educational. The staff there is only there because its a job to do and lack enthusiasm and friendliness. Take cash along as there is no card facilities. Remember to take the sunscreen along

R35 to enter cash only, dirt road more for SUV, 4x4, bakkies or cars with higher ground clearance. Not to say a normal car will not get you there, just slower. Forth the trip up and worth the walk around the battlefield.

This battlefield site is on a high point in the area with fantastic views over the surrounding hills and valleys. It is the site where so many brave but Ill informed and Ill supplied British troops lost their lives to a small band of dedicated Boer fighters. The atmosphere among all those people who lost their lives too early for a cause they barely understood is peaceful but disturbing at the same time. Visit the site with somebody knowledgeable about the proceeding of the time or do a lot of reading beforehand. Take some maps and information about the battle and a pair of binoculars and be prepared to walk around the paths to view the different spots on the battle map and investigate the different monument beacons. You will come away from this site with a new perspective on war.

A very interesting visit. The trench the Brits dug was only 40cm deep,and when the mist lifted they lay exposed to the Boers. How important is communication. When General Woodgate succumbed to his wounds, they lost direction and in the end lost the battle. The site is a little overgrown, may be due to the good rains this season.

Excellent guide Raymond Heron of Spionkop Lodge first took us to Mount Alice and then Spionkop. What an experience!

A guided tour of the battlefield with full history of the events leading up to the battle over the previous decades was fantastic and really interesting. Well worth the time and money.

Amazing look back into a part of South Africas fascinating history.

A bit of an adventure trying to find the place. But once we got there it was worth itLovely to experience part of the History of our countryThe place is well maintained with magnificent views

Its a must visit with a guide place. It helps one understand the countries history as 120 years ago thought processes and mindsets were far removed from the current time.

Historic battlefield in this regionBeautifull views from the top

The step-by-step map and guide is brilliant and makes it so real. So glad to see some of (my/ our history being preserved. Thank you to the management. I will gladly pay an entrance fee to support it. Only a little bit of maintenance is needed here and there... we got lost due to the broken cable and missing markings. Ps. You can book a guide at Three Tree or Spioenkop Lodge to explain it in even more detail. Worth it! Ek en my familie bestaan vandag as gevolg van hierdie geskiedkundige gebeure. Dit is so so so belangrik om te onthou en besef.

Special place ,sad that people can do that to one another

Worth a visit. Entry at this stage is R35 per person. Great to see that the Lives lost at Spioenkop are remembered and honoured in this way

The battlefield site is easy to get to and a comfortable walk, even for elderly people. There is a permanent information wall with photos and brief written information that is easy to follow and read. The sight is kept clean and in good condition. spectacular views. Read up on the history before visiting to make it more meaningful.

The historical recollection of the battle is really impressive.There is a self-guided trail leaflet which provides a brief explanation of events.Only dirt roads lead directly to the site, making the trip bumpy, but possible in a normal car.

Very interesting, very sad. So many lives lost, yet it is part of our history. The area is well kept, locations well marked and the self guided tour pamphlet supplied great. If you are interested in history, a must visit.

Authentic history evoking the spirit of nationalism and spirit of patriotism

What a special place. One of the most important military events in South Africa has been well preserved and makes for an excellent stop on your road trip.

The site is well laid out and extremely interesting BUT there was not a single sign pointing there from the main roads so we spent three hours driving around on shocking dirt roads. Even our GPS sent us to two wrong sites before we eventually found it. When I queried it at the gate the attendant just sighed and agreed that Yes there were no signs.For one of the Boer war major sites I found this very sad.

The self guided path, though uneven in places passed many places of interest. Views from top of mountain spectacular. Sad to think of lives lost. Exit sign from tar to gravel road is barely readable. Got lost following Sat nav"s conflicting directions. From entrance gate to mountain top road should not be attempted with low clearance vehicles. A tour with guide best option

Amazing part of historical history, most amazed with how well maintained, a must visit ......

Amazing history with mention of some of the greatest leaders of our time like Sir Winston Churchill, Mahat Ghandi and General Louis Botha. Use local guides to make the experience memeroble

The best battlefield site we visited. The kop or hill gives unrivalled views over the sun baked landscape. Such a pity so many died here in another futile encounter. Memorials & gravestones are scattered over the summit & the trench lines are marked out with whitewashed stones. Brian our guide for the three sites we visited gave another fine detailed account of skirmish. A emotive place.

So much history in one place. This beautiful location was the stage for one of the bloodiest, and ultimately fruitless, encounters between the British and the Boers during the 1900s. The views from the top are stunning, and the monuments tell the story of a battle that was ferocious, bewildering and so tragically pointless. For history buffs and normal travellers alike, a trip up to Spionkop Battelfield is one you will never forget.

Visited the site with Alistar as guide from Spioenkop Lodge and it was brilliant. Area is well kept and a guide is a must. Sad bit of history but well kept the area. Easy walk and you can see the battle from start to finish. Nice to see parties that took part here are represented and for all to see

Very interesting. You get a map to do a trail and they give you info about the fight. Worth a visit. Was the best battlefield to visit in these areas

Great history Point to visit, gravel Road not to bad, self drive or with a guide, walking trial and visit to all the graves. Still in good condition with help of local farmers. R35 entry fee.

Our guide was amazing, Raymond Heron, such insights and amazing historical knowledge.

Very interesting place, just keep in mind you need to get there via a sand road and it could been better if you do it with a guide, self guided is fine, it just gets a bit confusing

Very interesting place.

Hauntingly atmospheric, Spioenkop is the site of one of the most brutal battles in military history. The might of Queen Victorias forces went into close-quarter combat here against Boer commandos, in a fierce and often chaotic engagement that is still much discussed by history buffs and strategists alike. The terrain is rocky, thorny, and hostile, and even today you can sense the hardship both sides must have endured. Present at the battle were three men who would go on to be leaders in their own right: Louis Botha, who would become the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa; Mohandas K Gandhi, a stretcher bearer who would go on to help found modern India; and a young war correspondent and officer by the name of Winston Churchill. To visit this site is to feel the past come alive, and to be moved by the bravery of the combatants as well as the futility of war itself.

Fascinating look into our history

My first visit it was amazing

Beautiful, first make sure you understand the history of the place before being able to appreciate it

View from the top of the hill is beautiful.. Learn the history about the place..

Great battlesite, easy path to follow with the map from the gate. The map explains all the main aspects of the battle and gives good insight into the struggles of the British. Very well kept over the many years, lovely to be able to pay respect to those that have fallen. Remember to hold the torch up high.

Awesome piece of history. Amazing area and well preserved.

A blast of the war in the past was relived by Raymond Heron our historian and guide. His knowledge of the Spionkop battle is immense, he will have your attention from the beginning to the end, with riveting accounts and details experienced by both the British and Boer soldiers. Well worth a revisit in the future, a must visit for anyone interested in history. Ray and his wife Lynette will take excellent care of you if you visit and stay at their Spionkop lodge that over looks the Spionkop mountain. Roads to get around are in excellent shape, easily accessed by both buses and sedans alike. Look out for wildlife as you commute through the area. Would I go back again, absolutely!

Worth the climb! Amazing

I really enjoyed my visit to Spioenkop. I had read many accounts of the battle, but can now really understand how the day unfolded. Initually I felt a bit agrieved at the entrance fee, but the insightful guide map that I got in return was easy to follow and informative. In addition, the toilets were spotless and in good condition. The walking trail and monuments and graves were well maintained. Part of our living history.

Very surprised that this is not under tge control of the British war graves commission! However, it is a herritage site for Kwazulu Natal and there is a fee of around R30 to enter. You get a nice plan of the area of the battle and on the flip side a history related to markers on the circular route laid out with explanations. There is no bias towards either side of the conflict but a simple to understand explanation of what took place. As an Englishman i did find it fascinating that the arrogance of the English comanders showed through and was the main cause of the deaths of the English troops. Lack of understanding of what was going on and as officers fell in battle who was then in command. Tgere us from time to time I understand an historian that gives tours but allas it was boxing day and I was the only person there. The graves and memorials to the variouse troops and field stretcher bearers are well maintained. There are several dioramas pointing out tge points if interest and gun replacements that all in all brings the battle into perspective. Well worth the visit and the drive along dirt roads to get there. Do take water with you there are no places for refreshments and in the heat its advisable to stay hydrated and heads covered from the sun.

Good experience overall. Serene. Beautiful sights of the surrounding landscape. Sad history.

This battlefield is worth the visit. The drive to the top is really steep but nothing a reasonable car cant manage. Take your cameras! There is a spectacular view from the top. You will be given a detailed map at the entrance and the car park has an excellent timeline pictograph of the battle. I suggest reading it before looking around. The battle must have been indescribably brutal. Such a poor reflection of the greed of the British empire which continues elsewhere in the world today. The humanitarian story really makes you think. Full marks to the folk to maintain this site, it is well kept.

Interesting but paths may need a little maintenance. Views are beautiful and has lots of information.

Best visited with a local battlefields guide, or a good knowledge of the history leading up to this bloody and futile battle - this makes the significance and tragedy that much greater.A well run site with neat paths and well maintained graves & memorials... as well as clean loos. Well worth the visit.

Interesting site - wonderful views!

Fascinating historical sight with beautiful views.

This is the site where the historic Battle of Spioenkop was fought during the Anglo - Boer War. A road leads up the hill to the entrance gate where a small admission fee is paid and an informative brochure obtained. From the car parking area there is a self - guided trail past various monuments and burial sites and past the trenches, dug for shelter during the battle, and used as mass graves for the fallen soldiers afterwards. This site may be of special significance to visitors from the United Kingdom, who lost relatives in battle here in January 1900.